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Rail Service Data

Special Notice: In EP 770 (Sub-No. 1) the Board directed all seven (7) Class I rail carriers to submit to the Board two broad categories of data for rail service and employment for a six-month period to better assess how these carriers are performing amid a challenging supply chain environment in light of recent acute service issues. On October 28, 2022, the Board directed carriers to continue data submissions for a six-month period ending May 5, 2023, in light of continued issues. On May 2, 2023, the Board directed Class I carriers to continue weekly performance data and monthly employment data submissions until December 31, 2023, and modified reporting requirements for CSX Transportation, Inc. The Board’s decisions requiring the temporary data submissions are available here, here, here, and here.  These new data measures are outlined below.

Click the link to jump to Urgent Issues Rail Service Data.

For Urgent Issues Employment Data, click here.

The Surface Transportation Board requires Class I rail carriers to provide weekly reports containing data on rail service performance. These reports, which also include data pertaining to the Chicago gateway, allow both the agency and the public to have greater real-time visibility into the performance of the Class I industry. The weekly reports filed by the Class I rail carriers can be found below. In addition to the individual carrier reports, the Board has created a spreadsheet of consolidated service performance data for all Class I rail carriers.

Note: The Board issued a final rule in Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 49 C.F.R. Part 1250, Docket No. EP 724 (Sub-No. 5), amending its railroad performance data reporting rules to include certain chemical and plastics traffic as a distinct reporting category to the Class I railroads’ weekly reporting for the “cars-held” metric. The final rule is available here.

Individual Carrier Performance Data

  • System avg. train speed by train type and overall system train speed
  • Weekly avg. terminal dwell time and overall system dwell time
  • Car online by car type
  • Weekly avg. dwell time at origin for unit trains by train type
  • Weekly avg. number of trains held per day by train type and cause
  • Weekly avg. number of loaded/empty cars not moved in 48 hour+
  • Weekly total grain cars loaded and billed by state and service
  • Grain cars: cars ordered, car orders filled, cars past due
  • Grain trains: plan vs. performance

 

  • Coal trains: plan vs. performance
  • Weekly carload originated and received by commodity

 

Data Concerning the Chicago Gateway

  • The avg. daily car counts in Chicago yards
  • The avg. daily number of trains held short of Chicago
  • Summary of the protocols/alert levels used by the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office and notification when the alert levels are changed

Notes on recent changes to reporting data

Dec. 14, 2020: BNSF Reporting Error on Grain Loadings

BNSF recently noted an error in their data.  Table for item #7 (grain loadings) recorded some very occasional grain shipments that were waybilled to Alaska reflecting unusual but real-world routing.  When this happened, it would get pulled in their old query and it would shift the data in this table off one cell.  BNSF has adjusted their data query so that this issue can no longer occur and the reporting for the identified states is accurate.  These changes are now reflected in the updated individual files for the following dates (04/17/2019, 05/01/2019, 05/15/2019, 05/22/2019, 06/17/2020, 07/22/2020, 09/30/2020), as well as the consolidated file starting December 17, 2020.

Nov. 20, 2020: CTCO Terminal Forecast Indicators Cars Enroute

As of November 11, 2020, the Chicago Terminal weekly report will no longer include data for terminal forecast indicators cars enroute (through no I/C) and subtotal no I/C field.  It was determined that data for cars enroute (through no I/C) cannot be collected at this time.  Accordingly, those two fields will no longer be included in the weekly report.

Oct. 14, 2020: KCSX Laredo Yard average dwell

Beginning with the report filed with the Board on October 14, 2020, KCSR adjusted its methodology to capture all northbound cars for purposes of calculating Laredo Yard average dwell. This more complete data results in a reduction in weekly average dwell in the Laredo Yard terminal. KCSR noticed in September that the weekly average terminal dwell figure for Laredo Yard reported in Item 2 did not match KCSR’s other observations of dwell in that yard. After researching the issue, KCSR determined that dwell for northbound cars was not being captured correctly because northbound cars were identified as being received by KCSR at the International Bridge but as departing from Laredo Yard, and because those points are separate stations, the cars did not register as dwelling at the Laredo Yard station.

Data Methodologies

* Revised in part as of January 24, 2018
** Revised in part as of March 01, 2022

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of this data?
On November 30, 2016, the Board adopted a final rule to establish new regulations requiring all Class I railroads and the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office, through its Class I members, to report certain rail service performance metrics on a weekly, semiannual, and occasional basis. The primary purpose of the rulemaking was to develop a set of performance data that would allow the STB and stakeholders to monitor current service conditions in the industry.
How can I use this data?
This data can be used to monitor current service conditions in the rail industry and to identify regional or national service disruptions more quickly. It can benefit rail shippers and other stakeholders by helping them to better plan operations and make informed decisions based on publicly available, near real-time data, and their own analysis of performance trends over time.
When is the data posted?
The railroads are required to submit the data every Wednesday by the close of business. The data is then posted each Thursday by close of business. Updates will be provided in the Rail Service Data page if there are any delays with the data posting process.
What information is posted every week?
The STB publishes the individual service reports provided by the railroads along with the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office performance reports. The STB creates an additional report by consolidating all the data provided in the individual and CTCO reports.
What data formats are available?
The following formats are available in the STB rail service page: XLSX, PDF. In addition, USDA created a dashboard with data analytics/visualizations using STB’s rail service data. This can be accessed by creating an account in the USDA website: agtransport.usda.gov/login. Users can also create and embed visualizations directly from USDA’s dashboard. The following data formats are available in the USDA dashboard: CSV, RDF, RSS, TSV, XML.

Urgent Issues Rail Service Data

In EP 770 (Sub-No. 1) the Board directed all seven (7) Class I rail carriers to submit to the Board two broad categories of data for rail service and employment for a six-month period to better assess how these carriers are performing amid a challenging supply chain environment in light of recent acute service issues. On October 28, 2022, the Board directed Class I carriers to continue data submissions for a six-month period ending May 5, 2023, in light of continued issues. On May 2, 2023, the Board directed Class I carriers to continue weekly performance data and monthly employment data submissions until December 31, 2023, and modified reporting requirements for CSX Transportation, Inc. The Board’s decisions requiring the temporary data submissions are available here, here, here, and here.  These new data measures are outlined below.

Class I Carrier Data Submission Requirements

The Board required all Class I carriers to submit the following information on a weekly basis for a six-month period beginning on May 18, 2022. On October 28, 2022, the Board directed Class I carriers to continue data submissions for a six-month period ending May 5, 2023, in light of continued issues. On May 2, 2023, the Board directed Class I carriers to continue weekly performance data and monthly employment data submissions until December 31, 2023, and modified reporting requirements for CSX Transportation, Inc.

  1. The weekly average terminal dwell times, measured in hours, for the carrier’s 11th through 20th largest terminals[1]
  2. The weekly average number of train starts per day by train[2]
  3. Data on the movement and status of privately-owned, TTX-owned, and railroad-owned cars including:
    1. the number of cars in storage.
    2. the number of cars in service with no mileage.
    3. the number of cars with mileage.
    4. the weekly average number of car miles per day.
    5. the aggregate number of car miles per week.
  4. Data about unplanned recrews for each operating division and the system including:
    1. the weekly number of unplanned recrews.
    2. The percentage of total crew starts that were recrewed.
  5. Industry spot and pull data for each operating division and the system.
  6. Data about the causes of local train cancellations for each operating division and for the system:
    1. the weekly average number of local trains cancelled per day.
    2. the aggregate number of local trains cancelled per week, broken down by cause (crew, locomotive power, or other).
  7. On time performance data for the following types of service:
    1. Rail cars moving in manifest service.
    2. Certain types of unit trains (grain unit, coal unit, automotive unit, crude oil unit, and ethanol unit).
    3. Intermodal traffic

The weekly data collected in EP 770 are available in the table below. As noted above, the tables reflect the information as submitted by carriers.

Additionally, during the period that carriers are required to submit the data above, the STB will incorporate the data into a weekly service data compilation, along with the service data collected in EP 724. A data dictionary describing the dataset is available here.

The Board directed carriers to file methodology documentation describing the steps taken to calculate certain metrics. The carriers’ methodology documents can be found in their May 18, 2022 filings.

Service Data
Year Month Week BNSF CSX GTC KCS NS SOO UP All
2023 Dec 4 csv icon
2023 Dec 3
2023 Dec 2
2023 Dec 1
2023 Nov 4
2023 Nov 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Nov 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Nov 1
2023 Oct 4
2023 Oct 3
2023 Oct 2
2023 Oct 1
2023 Sep 4
2023 Sep 3
2023 Sep 2
2023 Sep 1
2023 Aug 5
2023 Aug 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Aug 3
2023 Aug 2
2023 Aug 1
2023 Jul 4
2023 Jul 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jul 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jul 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jun 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jun 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jun 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jun 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 May 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 May 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 May 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 May 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Apr 5 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Apr 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Apr 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Apr 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Apr 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Mar 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Mar 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Mar 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Mar 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Feb 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Feb 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Feb 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Feb 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jan 5 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jan 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jan 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jan 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2023 Jan 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Dec 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Dec 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Dec 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Dec 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Nov 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Nov 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Nov 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Nov 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Oct 5 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Oct 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Oct 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Oct 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Oct 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Sep 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Sep 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Sep 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Sep 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Aug 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Aug 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Aug 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Aug 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jul 5 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jul 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jul 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jul 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jul 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jun 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jun 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jun 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 Jun 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 May 4 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 May 3 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 May 2 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon
2022 May 1 csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon csv icon

[1] These data augment the system-wide data and the data currently reported here for the ten largest terminals under 49 C.F.R. § 1250.2(a)(5)).

[2] These data augment the weekly average number of trains held per day data currently reported here under 49 C.F.R. § 1250.2(a)(5)), sorted by train type (intermodal, grain unit, coal unit, automotive unit, crude oil unit, ethanol unit, other unit, and manifest).

Who should I contact for questions related to this data?  

If you would like to submit an issue or question related to the rail service data in this page, please contact us by calling 202-245-0286, or by emailing data.reporting@stb.gov.